Taxi Industry Inquiry homepage

On 28 March 2011, the Victorian State Government announced a major independent inquiry into the Victorian taxi and hire car industry.

Professor Allan Fels AO was appointed to Chair the inquiry. Professor Fels is assisted by Dr David Cousins AM.

The Terms of Reference, set by the Victorian Government, required the inquiry to undertake a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the taxi and hire car industry and recommend a set of reforms to the government focused on achieving better outcomes for the travelling public.

The issues considered by the inquiry were complex and long standing and required thorough examination and openness to all ideas and perspectives. The different models and approaches to taxi and hire car regulation in Australia and overseas were also examined.

The inquiry formally commenced on 12 May 2011 with the release of its first official background paper titled Setting the Scene. Its Draft Report was released for public comment on 31 May 2012.

Submissions to the Draft Report closed on 13 July 2012 and Public Hearings were undertaken on 13 and 14 and August 2012.

A Final Report Customers First: Service, Safety, Choice was provided to the government on 28 September 2012.

The report puts customers at the forefront of the industry, promotes opportunity and the chance for innovation in the taxi and hire car industry. The report also addresses serious and systemic problems in the taxi industry and recommends reforms that are expected to take three to five years to implement in full. A response to the report is expected in due course.

Professor Allan Fels will continue, temporarily, as Chair of the Taxi Services Commission until the government appoints a new Commissioner to take reform of the industry into the next phase.

The VTD is the current regulator of the Taxi and Hire Car Industry and all related matters should be directed to them.